Boa Vista Social Gym

Sal Rei, Boa Vista Island, Cape Verde, Dec. 2015.
Sal Rei, Boa Vista Island, Cape Verde, Dec. 2015.

One day, an American sailed into Sal Rei in Cape Verde. His intention was to put into port for a short time, just long enough to stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables, but…he fell in love with the island and lived there for over a year. To stay in shape, he cemented a couple of iron bars into the wall of the tuna cannery and worked out every day. It’s now been over twenty years since the American left the island, but his makeshift setup is still in use. It has even become the Praia Diante gym club, open day and night, right across from the Wakan Bar where, if you are not in a sporty mood, you’ll find the best caipirinha in all of Boa Vista Island.

Un jour, un Américain accosta en voilier à Sal Rei, au Cap Vert. Il n’était sensé y faire qu’une courte escale, le temps d’acheter quelques fruits et légumes frais, mais tomba amoureux de l’île et y demeura plus d’un an. Pour entretenir sa condition physique, il scella des barres de fer dans le mur de l’atelier de la conserverie de thon et s’entraina tous les jours. Voilà plus de vingt ans qu’il a quitté l’île, l’Américain, mais son installation de fortune sert toujours. C’est même devenu le club de gym de la Praia Diante, ouvert de jour comme du nuit, juste en face du Wakan Bar où, si vous n’êtes pas d’humeur sportive, vous trouverez la meilleure caipirinha de l’île de Boa Vista.


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